On the same day Pavel Datsyuk was announced (again) as a finalist for the Selke Trophy, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock took steps to ease any fears that the all-world center was planning to leave the NHL after next season.

Babcock told reporters that there was zero chance Datsyuk would sign with a KHL team after the last year of his seven-year, $46.9 million contract.

"You mean how long is his deal and how much is he gonna make? Well, there's this much possibility he's going back to Russia," Babcock said, making a zero with his thumb and index finger, according to the Detroit News. "I mean, we'll get it done (new deal) in the summer."

Rumors that Datsyuk, 34, would head home for good in 2014 have circulated for months. He's been open about his desire to finish his career there, which is beyond understandable, and played for CSKA Moscow during the lockout.

As for the Selke, which goes to the league's best defensive forward, Datsyuk has already won top honors three times (2008-09) and now has been nominated six consecutive years. He's a finalist alongside Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, the defending champion, and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks. All three are fine candidates, but Bergeron stands alone, in part because of the way he excels in more difficult situations.

Bergeron also had two goals, including the game-winner, in Boston's series-clinching, historic comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He said he's honored at the nomination but focused on the Thursday start of Boston's series against the New York Rangers.

"Part of the playoffs is to be in the moment, not look in the past, not look ahead," Bergeron said after practice on Wednesday, according to the Boston Globe. "It's about that next game, next day, so right now we're worried about Round 2, as we should."

Toews and Datsyuk were prepping for Game 1 of their series against each other. Chicago's captain said it was "an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as those two guys."

Babcock had kind words as well for Toews, who effectively kills penalties, is second only to Bergeron in face-offs, and appeared on more than a few Hart Trophy ballots, though he missed out on being a finalist.

"What he does on film is one thing," Babcock said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "That's not what makes him what he is. How tough he is mentally, how (good he is) every day, what a great person he is—that's what makes him the conscience of this team, the captain that he is. I like him a lot."